What is WhatsApp Spam? Who Spreads it? What can I do to reduce it?

In today’s world, Whatsapp has become an integral part of our lives. Its active user base is now more than two billion. It is now a daily driver for billions of people all over the world. However, as its popularity has grown, WhatsApp has become a haven for spammers and scammers.

What Exactly Is WhatsApp Spam?

WhatsApp spam is defined as any unsought message sent to you via the app. These are often messages which are inconvenient, time-consuming, and even dangerous.

WhatsApp spam can come in many forms such as:

• Advertising messages
• Chain messages
• Scams and frauds
• Malware and viruses

Advertising Messages:

Advertising messages are sent by someone or bots trying to sell you a product or service. They often come from companies that are trying to promote their brand or products. These repeatedly sent messages are quite annoying.

Chain Messages:

Chain messages are that messages that often ask you to forward spam or malicious links to a certain number of people. These messages claim to promise good luck or bad luck. They may also contain fake news for fear-mongering and these messages often prey upon the insecurities of people.

Fraudsters and Scammers

Scammers and fraudsters can be individuals or organisations. They use WhatsApp to trick people. The main goal of such people is to trick others into sharing personal information or money. They often try to pretend to be reputed companies or people to gain your trust and then trick you into gaining sensitive information or sending money.

Sometimes scammers might even pose as Government agencies or officials in order to deceive you. These messages can range from non payment of Electricity bills to credit card offers and a lot more.

Hackers and Cybercriminals:

Hackers and cybercriminals use WhatsApp to spread malware, viruses, and other harmful software. They may use social engineering techniques such as building phoney accounts or persuading you to click on a dangerous link or download a file. Hackers can take your personal information or use your device to launch additional attacks once it’s infected.

What Can I Do to Reduce WhatsApp Spam?

Here are some steps you can take to reduce WhatsApp spam:

1. Block and Report Spam Contacts

If you receive spam from a specific contact, you can block and report them. This will stop them from sending you any further communications. To block a contact, use the following steps:

1. Open WhatsApp and go to the chat with the contact you want to block.
2. At the top of the chat, tap on the contact’s name.
3. Scroll down and tap on Block Contact.
4. Tap on the contact that you want to block the contact.

2. Mute Group Chats

If you’re in a group chat that’s getting a lot of spam messages, you can silence the conversation. This will stop you from receiving notifications whenever someone sends you a message.

To mute a group chat, do the following:

1. Open WhatsApp and go to the group chat you want to mute.
2. Now head to the top of the chat and then tap on the group’s name.
3. Scroll down and tap on “Mute” Notifications.
4. Choose “Always” to mute the chat forever.

3. Disable Automatic Downloads

WhatsApp automatically downloads all media files given to you by default. You can stop this feature to prevent viruses from being downloaded automatically onto your device. To disable automatic downloads, take the following steps:

1. Open WhatsApp and go to “Settings”.
2. Tap on “Data and Storage Usage”.
3. Under “Media Auto-Download”, uncheck all the boxes or select Wi-Fi only for each type of media.

4. Use a Third-Party Spam Filter

There are several third-party spam filters available for WhatsApp. These filters can help you identify and block spam messages. Some popular spam filters for WhatsApp include:

• Truecaller
• Anti-Spam for WhatsApp
• SpamHound

If you follow the tips shown in this article, you can reduce the amount of spam you receive and protect yourself from scams and fraud. 

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Sukhdev Miyatra

Sukhdev has a passion for sharing insights and experiences on a wide range of topics from technology to personal development!